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WASHINGTON – The U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Public Buildings Service (PBS) has signed an agreement with three international real estate organizations to support open standards for Building Information Modeling (BIM) software and systems, the agency announced today. GSA will work with Finland’s Senate Properties, the Danish Enterprise and Construction Authority, and Norway’s Directorate of Public Construction and Property to promote interoperability and the seamless and accurate exchange of digital data from different developers.

“This is a significant collaboration,” said PBS Commissioner David Winstead. “It gives public owners and users a leadership role in the development of this important tool. And it promotes global cooperation and creativity.”

BIM software and systems generate finely detailed 3-D and 4-D computer building models, and can be used to design building heating and cooling systems and predict energy consumption. BIM can also help customers fine tune space design and the phasing of tenant moves.

GSA and its three partners have committed to making their construction projects accessible for piloting and will work together to issue corresponding BIM requirements, open standards mandates, and adoption schedules with the goal of using these on a regular basis within two to four years.

GSA provides a centralized delivery system of products and services to the federal government, leveraging its enormous buying power to get the best value for taxpayers.
• Founded in 1949, GSA manages more than one-fourth of the government’s total procurement dollars and influences the management of $500 billion in federal assets, including 8,600 government-owned or leased buildings and 208,000 vehicles.
• GSA helps preserve our past and define our future, as a steward of more than 425 historic properties, and as manager of USA.gov, the official portal to federal government information and services.
• GSA’s mission to provide superior workplaces, expert technology solutions, acquisition services, purchasing and E-Gov travel solutions and management policies, at best value, allows federal agencies to focus on their core missions.

Did You Know? GSA’s Public Buildings Service manages 352 million square feet of space for the federal civilian government in 2,100 American communities.